Wednesday, March 31, 2010

I don't know who is funnier, Molly or the Squirrel. I let Molly out on the deck and a bit later on I popped my head out to see this. The squirrel was talking up a storm, and it was either telling Molly off or laughing at her.

The squirrel is in the bird feeder by the way.

Molly at this point thought she could maybe get the squirrel?

Nope, but sitting like this is obviously comfy.......

Here the squirrel is up the tree, probably laughing at Molly for being such a silly doggy!

As the workmen were here again on Tuesday I made a couple of Lemon Loaves. The original recipe was posted here, with step by step instructions. A tip always make two, one for now and one for the freezer, may as well while you have the oven on, right?

Today is the last day of the month, how did you do with the Daily Savings Club? Here are the instructions of what to do through the month of April.

Today's Money Saving Tip:

One of the best and cheapest ways to get plants that you know will do well in your area is to trade with nearby friends, relatives, and acquaintances. Many species, such as iris, daylily, and hosta, can (or even need to) be divided periodically, while you can collect seeds or start cuttings from others.

On Tuesday I managed to get the bedroom primed, so on Wednesday I am hoping to get two coats of paint on the ceiling and one coat on the walls, so it's going to be a busy day!!

Put all the ingredients in the bowl and mix together. The key to this salad, is that you let it sit a few hours in the fridge before you serve it, as it lets the flavours all come together.

Now for the over achievers, you know who you are!! Rather than buying a bag of coleslaw mix, you will use fresh veggies and slice/shred them yourself, and no doubt you will make the mayo using this recipe.

So instead of paying 99 cents per 100g in the grocery store make this for not much more and it tastes a whole lot better.....

Coleslaw mix: 99 cents
Cheese: $1
Onion: 25 cents
Mayo: 50 cents

Total no more than $2.75, probably even less......

We ate ours with fish and baked potatoes and it was really good.......

Did you remember to put your money in your daily saving pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Don't buy frozen meals -- If you empty the contents of a frozen dinner onto a plate you will quickly realize that you are getting very little food for what you are paying. Do you realize you are paying $300 a pound for that tiny bit of veggies on the side? If you lead a busy lifestyle, set aside a weekend afternoon to make your own frozen dinners and meals prepared from scratch.

I posted a "special" column in the Orangeville Banner, as it was about a current issue. Normally I will be only posting once a week on a Friday. The subject was a bit controversial for me, but one that I felt needed to be explored.

For the topping, mix the flour, sugar and rolled oats together, rub in the marg until mixed in. Place on top of the fruit.

Bake in a 375 oF oven for 40 minutes, until topping is golden brown. Serve with icecream or cream. It's good!!!!

Now you know I am not one for bad language, but when I saw this over at Tracey's I knew right away I could relate to this:

I saw this dress on the online store at Roots and thought it was nice........not big enough sizing though for me.

I have started inputting recipes for the church cookbook, and I can see me trying a few!! So no doubt you will be benefiting from this!!!

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today? We are nearly at the end of month three!!!!

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Let your laundry dry outside. If you have the ability to hang up laundry outside, let the sun and warm summer breeze do the drying for you. Even if you can’t hang up clothes outside, try using your dryer on a lower heat setting or only partially drying your shirts and letting them air dry the rest of the way.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Now technically these are not flowers, they are buds on a tree, a maple tree, but they do look like little flowers when you get a closer look at them, just click on the photos to enlarge them. I couldn't get a closer shot, and it was a dull day on Saturday.........

Aren't they just lovely? Very 60's inspired don't you think? They are also not as high up my leg, as you know I have chunky calves, so they fit a lot better. Thank you to my dad and step-mum for giving me money for my birthday, that paid for them.

It's been bitter cold these last couple of days. When I hung my washing out on Friday it froze. Saturday wasn't a lot better, so no gardening for me yet. We did order some spare parts for the lawn tractor...yes it's getting to that time of year, where I 'll be getting the lawn tractor out again. Dh is hoping to give it a spring maintenance over Easter weekend.

We picked up some paint on Saturday night. I got 5 gallons of multi purpose primer and 2 gallons of ceiling paint, and a three pack of rollers, that came to just under $200. I couldn't believe how expensive it was. As I am going to be painting the ceiling, dh normally does it; I got the paint that goes on pink and dries white, thought it would be easier for me to see where I have been. I have half a gallon left of the wall paint, so will have to buy another gallon of that paint as well, so that will be another $30. We're at a point again where there is more money going out than coming in.

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Tooday's Money Saving Tip:

In the past house painting has been a real chore,we are going change that and make your next painting project last longer, go faster and save you money too.

Selecting Materials

The number 1 reason why most homeowners have painting problems lies right here, selection of materials. There is no such thing as a Good inexpensive can of paint! You get exactly what you pay for.

Considering that it costs the Manufacturer appx $4.00 for the can, label, lid, bail and shipping box, now add the cost of raw materials, manufacturing, markup for factory profit, freight, then the retailer has to make his 30- 40% profit, what do you think is in a can of paint that sells for $10-$12.00?

A lot of frustration

Better quality coatings will give you better hiding power meaning more square footage per gallon, easy touch up and longer life.

When I was contracting I would tell my customers, "it costs you 5 cents a sq ft for me to drag the brush across a surface, what I put on the end of the brush is up to you, .03 cents per foot and I'll be back next year, .08 cents per ft and I'll see you in 6-8 years" Get the idea?

Invest in a quality product and get off on the right track. After all, you don't want to be doing this again in 6 months do you.

What Paint to Buy

Quality is determined by the grade and type of pigments, resins, and how much water is in the can.

Don't just buy a big name brand and think you are getting a good product.

Every manufacturer makes an inexpensive paint. A well known manufacturers name on the label does not necessarily mean that it is a good product. They have to provide for all markets.

An $8 a gallon of contractors flat offers dry hiding, a matte finish, and covers everything. Don't try to wash it or touch it up. A $30 gallon of the same manufacturers top line finish has premium pigments more resin, and less water. This paint will give you more sq ft on the wall per gallon, washes and touches up well, and therefore lasts longer. Stick with the medium and top of the line grades

Interior Paints

Enamels are less likely to be damaged by cleaning than are most flat latex paints. They come in a wide range of finishes including,high gloss,semi-gloss,satin or eggshell which is a hand rubbed look with a very slight sheen finish,not a color.

In high traffic areas and where the coating will be washed often such as kitchens, baths, and woodwork, an enamel will be your best choice.

Flat wall finishes are more desirable in other parts of the house like bedrooms,living and dining areas. 100% acrylic formulations touch up very well and are very durable.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Friday was a super busy day. The day went by so fast, in fact the whole week has gone by fast. There just doesn't seem like there are enough hours in the day at the moment. Still it's better to be busy than sitting there twiddling your thumbs right?

The workmen worked until 2pm on Friday and will not be back again until Tuesday, as they don't work on weekends, and I have an appointment on Monday morning. So fingers crossed they will be finished on Tuesday and I can start and decorate our bedroom, as I am not loving sleeping in a double bed with dh. It's too squished and for someone who is permanently having hot flashes that isn't a good thing!

Then on Friday afternoon I attended the church advisory meeting, as I was going to present my recipe book fundraising idea. I am pleased to say that we are going ahead with it which is hardly surprising as I am doing the majority of the work. However I am dreading the next meeting we have to have as getting everyone to agree on something is bloody hard work. I mean it's painful; I couldn't believe how much they hummed and haa-ed over every slight detail on another lady's project.

So all I got them to decide on today, was would like like me to do this and could they supply me with recipes. We still have to figure out the graphics, the colour, the type of font, the dividers, the title, and the forward for this process. I think I will need to take a valium before that meeting, as when God was handing out patience I was either in the shopping or eating chocolate line, and you need the patience of a saint with some of those ladies.

Infact when I started to talk about the church having a website, one lady got up and walked out without saying a thing??? When the reverend was thanking me for my presentation I mentioned I think I had upset this lady, but he said she was grumpy today anyhow!!!

Don't forget today at 8:30pm it's Earth Hour, for more information on it, please click on this link Will you participate?

Did you remember to put money in your Daily Saving's Pot? We are getting close to the end of the month.

Today's Money Saving Tip:
If you have fluorescent lights, don't turn them off when leaving a room if you will be gone for 15 minutes or less. It costs more to turn a fluorescent light off and on again than keeping it running for this period. This will also help make the light last longer since turning fluorescent lights off and on wears out their tube.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Well my column is now up and running on the Orangeville Banner, however it's almost impossible to find it, other then putting in the word "blog" into the search feature on the site, they are experiencing a few technical glitches at the moment. Here is a direct link to it. I am not happy with how the column is looking, but it will all come together no doubt. I will be using some of the work that I use on the Eden Valley Messenger's site, but generally each one will have their own unique columns. I am responsible for putting everything together, whereas with the EVM, I email everything over to them and they upload everything onto the site.

The Bad:

Well I knew in the back of my mind that these workmen would run into some sort of problem, as everything we do in this house is an issue. So today they started to work on our bedroom ceiling and by coffee time they had run into problems. The reason the ceiling was cracked was the floor joists in the attic are only 2' by 6', rather than 2' by 8's or 10's. So its not as strong, and when people are walking in the attic, there is some "bounce" in the ceiling, which in turn causes the cracks.

The solution to this issue would be to take up all the flooring in the attic and replace all the joists, can you all say CHING-CHING!!! Well have to say this house is living up to its name, "THE MONEY PIT." What we have decided to do, is to get them to repair the ceiling as planned, and if and when it cracks again, I will put up either a faux tin ceiling or wallpaper the ceiling.

When the house was built the attic was mainly a storage place, not a living place, so that's why they only used the smaller joists. As we are only using it as my sewing room, and a spare bedroom it should be fine.....we hope.

I must say I am going to be on pins and needles when they start in the basement, as goodness knows what they will discover down there!!

The Ugly:

Not exactly ugly, but I am not loving my latest finished project. I can't exactly figure out why I am not happy about it, but I generally love my work, but not in this case. The finished size is 20 inches by 28 inches. Hopefully someone loves it and will buy it off me?

The front of the table runner:

The back of the table runner, blogger turned my photo around?

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Four questions that you should ask before adding things to your life:

1. Do I have something that can serve?

2. Can I make it?

3. Can I buy it used?

4. Can I do without it?

Only when all four answers are “no” do you then go through the research of finding the best price on a new purchase.

A couple of other things. I have been super busy so haven't had the time to visit everyones blogs, I am sorry.

Also I am having trouble with editing this post, and aligning the text to the left? Not sure what is going on with Blogger?

So I see we can now order clothes from Topshop to be delivered here in Canada and the States. I remember as a teenager that was a cool place to shop and get the latest trends. I used to love the loud music all the latest hits, those cool changing rooms, just the whole experience and it meant also we had to travel to the closest city Carlisle to shop there.

Fast forward 30 years and I hate that kind of fashion. I hate loud music in the stores and the lighting is usually terrible. Give me normal lighting, classic clothes; oh and soft quiet music any day!! Must be getting old..........and I nearly forgot a comfy chair to sit on in case I am tired with strolling from the car to the store!

My brother sent me a photo of his toilet seat, very patriotic don't you think? Anyhow I did a google search and happened upon this site make sure you look at the rubber ducks, they are just the cutest things out there.

Molly had a busy day guarding the property from the marauding squirrels again. Here she is watching the tree.

Okay she has spotted him/her....

Close up of him/her......

Here's Molly worn out from all her activities. Notice her paw touching her raw hide chew!!

Did you remember to put your money in your daily savings pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Pay cash. Leave the plastic at home and try using cash for a week. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes in your spending. Here’s a hint—once your wallet is empty, your shopping is over for today.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

I talk about BBQ season or in my case cremating season in my column this week on The Eden Valley Messenger. No idea what I am going to write about next week......no doubt something will pop up before the weekend.

The workmen arrived on Tuesday and got all the drywall/plasterboard hung in the attic. So now the guy who puts on the mud and tape will come in and sort it all out. He has got the stomach flu at the moment, so not 100% sure when he is going to arrive?

It poured down all day on Tuesday and with the guys walking in and out, there is mud from one end of the house to the other. However there is little point of doing too much cleaning as when the sanding begins its going to be nasty. I am so not looking forward to that.

Keep it indoors. Whether you’re heating or cooling, you don’t want your energy going out the door. Caulk and weather-strip around doors and window frames. Closely check any area where pipes go from the outside of your home to the inside, especially plumbing pipes. And if you have operable storm windows, make sure those are shut, too.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Well first of all the workmen never turned up on Monday. Personally I think the store forgot about us, but they used the excuse that some of the guys had come down with the stomach flu. Anyhow, they will be putting up the drywall/plaster board on Tuesday. Then someone else is coming in on Thursday, Friday and maybe Saturday (?) to do the taping and sanding.

Regardless, the sooner it is done the better, as me and dh are camping out in the spare bedroom, and sleeping in that bed, which is only a double bed. We are used to a queen sized bed, and it's a bit squishy; and with me suffering from numerous hot flashes being squished together is not a good thing.

I got a couple of sewing jobs done. Including the black, white and red block of the month. I have to say this block pattern is my favourite so far and pretty easy to do.

I also got the net curtain sewn for the closet and dh got the shelves put up in there. I will have photos of that tomorrow. Plus dh got permission to take some old breeze/cinder blocks to work to dispose of; so we loaded the truck up with them on Monday afternoon, saving us dumping fees.

I am so glad I moderate all my comments, as I have been hit with all sorts of "spam" posts these last few days. I have no idea where they are coming from but it is a pain. I'm just thankful that I can moderate them and reject them, so you guys don't have to deal with the rubbish that is written.

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Visit your home improvement store like Lowe's or Home Depot. They offer free programs that teach you the skills you need to fix up your home. If there isn't a class someone will explain in detail the how to of fix up.

Monday, March 22, 2010

I got a new to me magazine when I was out the other day, called Cross Stitch Crazy. It's of course a British magazine, I think the British have the best magazines in the world. I signed up for the newsletter and entered all the competitions, other than the ones for the sewing machines, as they won't work over here.

It had a lovely little free project in it, for a bookmark, so I have been busy doing that. (right of photo)

One tip that all experienced cross stitchers know, but if you're new to the craft, these kits have a habit of coming with no identification of what colour is what. Make sure you go through the colours in the day light, and get a piece of cardboard and write down the colour and the symbol used, and put a hole in for each colour. That way it's easier to find the right colour threads. In this case there are 4 different mauve colours and a pink, which is similar to the light mauve!!

I love doing cross stitch as much as I love sewing.

By the time you read this on Monday morning, the workmen should have arrived (9am out time) to start on the drywalling/plasterboarding. I of course have signed up to be their chief supervisor, and a fine job I will no doubt do!! Not sure how lon they will be here, but I have cleared my week to be at home, other than on Friday when I have a meeting at 2pm at the church. I am putting forward a motion to be in charge of organizing a cookbook for a church fundraier. Should be fun and pretty simple to do. Just have to print out some figures, got my sample cookbook and I am all ready to go. Think it should be a relatively easy thing to persuade the members to sign up for.

I still have a list of things to do sewing wise this week, so want to work my way through that list; as when these guys have gone, I am going to be busy deocrating.

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Eat less meat. For the nutritional value, meat is very expensive, especially as compared to vegetables and fruits. Simply change around your regular meal proportions to include more fruits and vegetables and less meats – eat a smaller steak and a bigger helping of green beans, for example. Not only is this a healthier way to eat (saving on health costs), it’s also less expensive.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

One thing I am seeing popping their heads through the soil are the irises, so I know I will be guaranteed some colour in the garden this year. This is a taster of what they will look like in a few months time.

Friday the temperature hit around 18oC. Saturday it was barely above freezing with the windchill. What is going on with our weather? We even had snow flurries on Saturday; it didn't stick but it was a reminder to everyone, that it is still only March. I even had to put the fire on, thank goodness we still have plenty of wood left.

I first saw this video over on someone elses blog.........I apologise to that person as I have forgotten whose it was.......

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food, now it is over 21 minutes long, but it is an eye opener. My only gripe with the whole thing, is Jamie cannot stand still and it's annoying.

It's a short post today, as I honestly don't have much to say for myself, I know shocker!!

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Pass on extended warranties. A $129 two year extension on a $300 product is just not worth it. Warranties are insurance, and we rarely need to insure such a small amount.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

It was another glorious day on Friday, and I got my first true load of laundry hung out. So I had to take a photo of it. I was extra careful not to include my bloomers in the shot..........don't want to frighten y'all! It was blowing a gale so was dry quite quickly. Do you see the snow still in the background? We are supposed to get some more snow next week. Hopefully it won't amount to anything..........

My column for next week on the Eden Valley Messenger is about Barbecuing, so I thought I'd take a photo of our barbeque, and then I found a joke about men and barbecues..........

Definition of Barbecuing ... It's the only type of cooking a "real man" will do.

When a man volunteers to do the 'BBQ' the following chain of events are put into motion:

1.The woman goes to the store. 2.The woman fixes the salad, vegetables, and dessert 3.The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils, and takes it to the man, who is lounging beside the grill, beer in hand. 4.The man places the meat on the grill. 5.The woman goes inside to set the table and check the vegetables. 6.The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. 7.The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman. 8.The woman prepares the plates and brings them to the table. 9.After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes. 10.Everyone praises man and thanks him for his cooking efforts. 11.The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off." And, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women.

Did you remember to put your money in your daily savings pot today? We are more or less two thirds through the month of March, it's flying by isn't it?

Friday, March 19, 2010

This month's quilt block is called Road to Tennessee I managed to get the brown, cream and pink block completed on Thursday. I hope to get the black, white and red one done before the weekend's out.

Another first this week, had a coyote wander through the property just before 8am on Wednesday morning, just as well I had Molly inside.........

My sister-in-law in Britain is doing a 5 km run for cancer. If you would like to sponser her, here is the link to her page.

Something for the 40+ age group crowd:

SIGNS THAT YOU MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING MENOPAUSE* You sell your home heating system at a yard sale. (Hot flashes)* The person you sleep with complains about snow piling up on the bed. (Nightsweats)* Your husband jokes that instead of buying a wood stove, he is using you to heat the family room this winter. Rather than just saying you are not amused, you shoot him. (Mood swings)* You write post-it notes with your kid's names on them. (Memory loss)* Your husband chirps, "Hi honey, I'm home." and you reply, "Well, if it isn't Ozzie f*cking Nelson". (Irritability)* The phenobarbital dose that wiped out the Heaven's Gate Cult gives you four hours of decent rest. (Sleeplessness)

* You find Guacamole in your hair after a Mexican dinner. (Fatigue)* You change your underwear after every sneeze. (Mild incontinence)* You need Jaws Of Life to help you out of your car after returning home from an Italian restaurant. (Sudden weight gain)

* You take a sudden interest in "Wrestlemania". (Female hormone deficiency)

* You're on so much estrogen that you take your Brownie troop on a field trip to Chippendales. (Hormone therapy)

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Money Saving Tip:If you have a paid subscription to a newspaper, give them a call to see if you're getting the best rate. I did that with our newspaper and got a reduction on our rate.....

Thursday, March 18, 2010

I took these photos around 8:30am this morning. The first two are looking towards the east, the second two towards the west. It looks as though we may be getting rain coming out of the east although the forecast says sun all day.......

On Wednesday as the weather was so nice I decided to bring my geraniums up from the basement and plant them up for the Spring. So I bring Molly outside with me and she is busy in the garage looking for mice. I go back and forward to the shed and she comes back and forward with me, as after the garage her second favourite place is the shed, as there is mice in there as well.

I pot up my geraniums and start and hang up some bird boxes when she disappears. I find her by the back fence, but of course she totally ignores me, as now she is following the scent of the squirrels who use the back fence as their own personal highway.

She then heads to the south fence which is a split rail fence, and despite me shouting at her, she totally ignores me and manages to get through the fence into the south woods. As I am only wearing my crocs I have to run into the house and put my hikers on, as there is snow in the woods. I run down Kamikaze Hill and am faced with the split rail fence, so I haul my butt over the fence and start searching for Molly. Luckily for us, she has her collar on with her tags that make a noise, so I follow the noise.

I keep shouting for her, but basically I am wasting my breath as she takes not a blind but of notice of me. I come across the stream in the middle of the woods, and manage to get across that. I try to bribe her with a treat, but she is not interested. Some sort of giant black vole/mouse/rat appears out of no where..not happy with that.......

I finally catch her and put her on her leash and walk back towards the split rail fence. Molly of course is worn out and has no intention of getting through the fence. So I have to haul her over the fence, and as she is filthy and wet, so am I now!! I then have to haul my butt back over the fence being careful not to break it. Only to be faced with walking back up Kanikaze Hill, which now looks the size of Mount Everest.

Not sure which of us was puffing and panting the most but we finally made it back up the hill and I put Molly on the back deck while I finished off my jobs on the front deck.

So I have the metal ladder out as I am climbing up it to hammer the nest boxes on the trees. I decide to try and hang an ornamental birdhouse, that I got given last summer. I climb the ladder and for some reason I didn't have it steady and I ended up falling off the ladder and breaking it. Luckily I was only about six feet up and the ground was soft and I have plenty of padding. Got a feeling though I may have a few bruises on my legs by the end of the week!!

Below is a photo of the geraniums I have potted up. They may not look like much now, but they should grow alright.

Here are some photos of the bird houses I put up:

I hopefully will have residents in them soon...........

So here I am on Wednesday evening with a doggie who is flaked out on the sofa exhausted with all the excitement of the day. I don't know what I have done to her this week but she is testing me that's for sure!!!

If you were lucky, you received gifts that were sufficiently "high-end" to be packed with packing peanuts. Before you take those packing peanuts out with the trash, consider how useful they may be as filler in your container gardens. Huh? you ask. That's right: packing peanuts are light and airy enough to offer great drainage at the bottom of a container garden, such as the raised beds I show you how to construct elsewhere. Why pay money for a product such as perlite to accomplish the same result, when the packing peanuts are free? You could also use crushed stone; however, not only will you have to pay for it, but its weight will make the container much heavier to move around.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Monday night was the first night since last Fall that we didn't have the fire on; and as I write this on Tuesday night, I haven't lit the fire. Its been lovely through the day, though below freezing overnight, so of course the heating is still turned on, though not on as much.

Tuesday I got the laundry hung out on the line for the first time in 2010. Granted it was only Molly's bedding but its a start.

For those of you who live in Canada, that smoke you saw in the sky on Tuesday night.............it was me barbquing......or in my case cremating the burgers for the first time in 2010. So be prepared for smoke on a regular basis now!!!

Monday I started taking Molly out for a walk after supper. Remember I am one of those fair weather dog walkers. I only walk Molly when it's not too cold, not too hot, not wet, not humid, and on and on I go with excuses. Luckily Molly has clicked this is not the most energetic of households when it comes to exercise!!

By the way I said a quick hello to the tread mill as I passed it the other day, poor thing is still hibernating, so I had best not disturb it for a few more months!

On Tuesday morning I saw a raccoon on the back deck, for the first time since we have moved here. I knew there were raccoons about, I just haven't seen any up close and personal.

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs and replace your most commonly used incandescent bulbs with these more energy efficient bulbs. Each bulb can save about $30 over the life of the bulb.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

It started out well, Molly let me have a lie-in until 7:45am. Then it went downhill when Molly rolled into something unmentionable. So I had to haul her upstairs for a shower, all before I had even had my breakfast. Happy Birthday Gill!

Anyhow, I opened my present from my mam first. Must say she knows me well and has good taste. She sent me a Radley purse, which I know means nothing to anyone this side of the ocean, but for the British crew they may ooh and aah. Radley is a bit like Coach purses in the States.

She sent a couple of Spode teatowels.

A pack of four Denby coasters.

A Wedgwood tea light holder. You know I am a sucker for any type of Wedgewood.

I got this tote bag from the Eden Valley Messenger. For some reason blogger turned the photo. You can win one of these tote bags by submitting a money saving tip here.

Dh brought home this lovely bunch of flowers. He also got me a Chapter's gift card, a couple of scratch and win tickets (I won $3) and my main gift is a bit different. He has got me a ticket for a Charity Fundraiser at a gallery in Whitby, Ontario at the end of April. Each ticket is drawn randomly and you get to choose a piece of art donated by an artist. Dd is also going so it should be good fun.

Dh also finished work early so I got to spend the afternoon with him as well. Mind you we were busy, as he filed our taxes. Then we were busy in the attic tidying that up, as they are coming on Monday to drywall the attic and sort out our bedroom ceiling.

I ventured into our shed for the first time since last Fall, as I wanted to get a container to cover the rhubarb to force it. I was wearing my wellies, and discovered that I have leaks in my wellies, so the money my dad and step-mum gave me for my birthday I will use to buy myself another pair of wellies.

This week's column is up and running on the Eden Valley Messenger. This week I talk about the Spring ThawIf you have a few moments please pop by and have a read.

Did you remember to put your money in your pot for the Daily Savings Club today?

Today's money saving tip:

As the weather is getting better you may feel inclined to clean your windows. Here is a recipe for homemade window cleaner:

Monday, March 15, 2010

Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself. ~Tom Wilson

So here I am, another year older. I remember last year asking if I was half way through my life, as I turned 45 years of age. I am guessing I am wanting to live until I am 90 years of age from that thought, but honestly I would be happy to reach 80 years of age.

One of my mother's neighbours is in her early 90's and has had to go into a home as she can't cope anymore. I don't want to get like that, I like my independance, and I don't want to be a burden on anyone. Since moving up here, I seem to be mixing with a lot more older people and are seeing their struggles "health wise" first hand, and I don't want to go through those.

My pop (grandfather) died to my mind the best way. He got up one morning, went downstairs, my nana made him a cup of tea, he sat in his chair, not sure if he drank it or not, but he had a heart attack and died there and then in his chair. A heck of a shock for my nana and the rest of the family, but at least he didn't suffer. That's how I want to go, and as heart/blood pressure problems are common on both sides of my family, there is a good chance that I will go the same way.

Gosh that was a doom and gloom way to start a post. So lets move onto something a bit brighter!!

As we started celebrating my birthday on Saturday, I started getting presents on Saturday night. The kids bought me a 2 year subscription to the Sew News magazine, which is such a perfect gift for me, as I am a magazine junkie, and I love to sew!! That night I also got the orchid from R & M that I featured in yesterday's Today's Flower post.

On Sunday my dad and step-mum came up for lunch, homemade quiche, baked potatoes, potato salad, and garden salad. Homemade apple pie or peach tarts for dessert. I made a pound and a half of pastry and got a lot of things out of it.

Anyhow they bought me The Chocolate Bible...........do they know I love chocolate, of course they do!!!

I will post on Tuesday what else I get.

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

In a restaurant before ordering ask about "specials" not on the menu. These are often very fresh and good bargains. Many restaurants have regular specials each day of the week. Generally Monday through Thursday are the best deals.